LTS Server Maintenance

Due to the tremendous growth of the LTS website over the past few months, we have been experiencing a few technical difficulties.

In order to increase the speed of the site, increase our directory content and enable additional needlework professionals to join the site we need to make some changes.

The site will be under construction to switch our server from 10PM Friday May 29th to 10PM Monday, June 1st.

We ask you to please be patient as you may experience a few service interruptions during this time. Needlework Professionals ~ please do NOT add information during the switch as it may not save. Please send LTS your changes and we will add them for you.

If you have any questions, or need more information, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to next week and the opportunity to continue to build the needlework community one LOOSE THREAD at a time ~all we need is you!

In Stitches,

Colleen

Interview with Kathy of Designs by Lisa

Name: Designs by Lisa
Email: Kathydbl@msn.com
Website: www.xstitchdesignsbylisa.com
Yrs in business: 10

How did you get started & who taught you how to stitch:
In 1985 while my husband and I were stationed in Chicago IL (Navy), my friend Jennifer introduced me to cross stitch so that I would have something to do during the evenings while my husband was at night school. After purchasing a simple pattern and working on it for awhile, I knew I was hooked! I couldn’t put it down, and I haven’t gone without something to stitch since that point on.

Fast forward to 1993, we were now living back in our home state of UT. Wanting to stay home with our two young sons, I found a job stitching models for a company by the name of Vanessa-Ann. I thought I was in heaven. I was actually getting paid to stitch. And stitch I did for them, for 4 ½ years.

Then one day as I sat stitching someone else’s design, I sat there thinking to myself, and then, talking to myself, saying “I think I could do this”…Design that is. And while I never did answer myself (thankfully), I was committed to giving it a try. I had done design work for Vanessa-Ann with silk ribbon embroidery, and always found that enjoyable. The joy of seeing my published work was such a thrill. So, when I started designing cross stitch, there was no turning back. First, I started submitting my designs to county fairs, then state fairs, and then after a couple of years, and several ribbons under my belt, I had a design come back with a note from one of the judges, telling me I really needed to consider marketing them. That one validating remark and winning a patriotic design contest for the magazine “For the Love of Cross Stitch”, gave me the confidence to begin the business.


Where do you find your inspiration?
Living in UT, it’s hard not to be inspired. We live at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, and the great outdoors surround us in every direction. As evident in my designs, I get a lot of influence by the trees, mountains, and critters. Nature is indeed a wonderful playground for inspiration. And of course, life in general sparks all kinds of ideas. My husband, two boys, the dog, family, and friends are always giving me an idea for something, and most of the time they are unaware that they have. Several of my designs represent a time, or event, that has occurred in my life that I chose to depict with needle and thread. What is truly remarkable is when one of those designs touches someone else enough to contact me to tell me about their thoughts, and how it relates to their own life. This is truly the best part of what I do. When I can make someone happy, it’s all worthwhile.

What was your profession prior to becoming a designer?
I was a model stitcher, and a stay at home mom.

How did you come up with your company name?
Contrary to popular belief I did not come up with my name just to confuse everyone. My real name is Lisa Kathleen. I have gone by “Kathy” my entire life…except for those first few days of life. See, my dad was not at home for my birth. My mother had named me, and called me Lisa for several days until my dad came home. Dad wasn’t fond of “Lisa”, so they ended up using Kathy. For my mother…I decided to use the name she had truly wanted me to be called for my business name.

How does your website connect you with stitchers?
My website is a must! It’s very important, I think, to provide stitchers a place where they can contact me directly, get particular details of a design they may be interested in, or to find a shop where they can purchase my designs. It’s also the place where they can check in to see what’s new. I love to hear from stitchers regarding anything about my designs, whether it’s to show me something they’ve stitched, or to point out that I should have put this info, or that info on a chart. Sometimes it takes a second or third look to find an error.

What would stitchers be interested in learning about you?
Hmmm, I’m not sure about this one. I’ve been married for 25 years and have two sons 24 & 22. I also love to paint, tile, and do home renovations. I love to walk into something that needs to be remodeled. Possibly, this type of thing is my second favorite thing to do after cross stitch. As in designing, visualizing what something will look like after you’re done is so much fun. As a matter of fact, my husband and I just finished and moved into a condo that we remodeled. We moved from a very large house that we also remodeled. And here’s a great tip..If you ever want to get rid of a lot of furniture…just move to a place half the size of what you’re in now! Needless to say, our boys ended up furnishing their own house with what we had to get rid of. Oh, and I’m short.



Can you give our members a sneak peek at designs you have coming down the line?
The only sneak peek I have available at the moment is my new design featuring “Mombo”. For those who are not familiar with Mombo, he’s a loveable moose and has his own series. This new title is called “Moose be Independence Day”, and can be seen here on the LTS site under new needlework designs. Or he can be found by going to my website. Right now he’s featured on my newsletter:

www.xstitchdesignsbylisa.com/newsletter.html Anyone can sign up for my newsletter, just email me directly and request that you be added. Only when I have something new does the newsletter go out.

You can also see the rest of the Mombo series on my website.

Favorites of this designer:

What is your favorite design spot?
My office. It sits upstairs with a sliding glass door, so I can look out, see the trees and hear the birds.

What is your favorite thread color?
I tend to gravitate towards neutral nature colors….browns, golds, greens. They’re calming to me.
Favorite count fabric?
28, then 32

Linen or Aida?
Linen

Favorite gadget?
I’m an equal opportunity gadget giver. Whatever gadget gets the job done when needed is my favorite at the time.

Favorite organizer?
My floss rings.

Favorite method of stitching?
Stab and poke

What is your #1 MUST HAVE?
That would have to be my stitching bag. Granted, there is always a ton of stuff in it, but as long as I have IT- I’m good to go.

What is your favorite design and why?
Tough question. It’s hard to choose just one. I do think though, that my favorite would have to be “Life’s good, Live the journey”. That one hangs where I see it every day, and it’s like a gentle reminder to not to just “endure” life, but to really “LIVE” it.

Who are your favorite designers and why?
Again, tough question. Of all my years cross stitching before I started designing, I stitched everything under the sun that appealed to me. And believe me, that varied from year to year. My favorite designer was whoever’s design I was working on at the time. But a designer that I really admire today is Cheryl Granda from Glendon Place. I just like her style, and love her WOW (words of wisdom) series. She seems to have an inner peace that comes through her designs. And although, I have never met her, nor stitched one of her designs, I think she brings a great talent to the industry. I think if we were given the chance to stitch everything we wanted to stitch, we would have to live forever!
Anything Extra?
I would like to say thank you to all the shops and stitchers who support me. Please don’t hesitate to contact me regarding anything.

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Two - Sided Italian Cross

Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each one.

Two Sided Italian Cross ~ also known as Italian Cross or simply Italian

Steps ~ Come up through the fabric on the lower left hand side, cross 4 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 4 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Cross over 4 threads, go up 4 threads to the right and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric cross over 4 threads and go down 4 threads to the left and come up through the fabric. Go up 4 threads and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go over 4 threads and go down 4 threads and come up through the fabric. Cross over 4 threads and go up 4 threads and go down through the fabric. From behind the fabric go down 4 threads and over 4 threads and come up through the fabric. Go up 4 threads and go down through the fabric. Repeat as necessary.

If you are stitching more than one Two-Sided Italian Cross, you will need to make changes to the steps mentioned above. View the diagram below for multiple stitches.

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Four Sided Stitch

Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each one.

Four Sided Stitch ~ also known as Four Sided Open Work

Steps ~ Come up through the fabric on the left hand side and go up 2 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 2 threads and down 2 threads. Come up through the fabric and go over 2 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 2 threads and up 2 threads. Come up through the fabric and go over 2 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 2 threads and up 2 threads. Repeat as necessary.

Steps ~ This stitch can also be created in a larger fashion. Come up through the fabric on the left hand side and go up 4 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 4 threads and down 4 threads. Come up through the fabric and go over 4 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 4 threads and up 4 threads. Come up through the fabric and go over 4 threads and go through the fabric. From under the fabric go over 4 threads and up 4 threads. Repeat as necessary.

Whip it Up Wednesday ~ Outline

Each Wednesday we will choose a stitch to explore and post stitch diagram(s) to help you practice and master each one.

Outline Stitch ~ Also known as Stem Stitch

Steps ~ Come up through the fabric on the left hand side go over 4 threads and go through the fabric. From behind the fabric go back to the left 2 threads and come up through the fabric. Repeat as necessary.

Win a Stitchable Journal

I am the mother of a wonderful 5 year old son. He is one of the funniest, most personable people I know. He is one of those people who can walk into a room full of strangers and leave with everyone knowing his name. He has his fathers charm and outgoing personality. I know both will serve him well as he grows into a wonderful husband and father some day. His dad (my fabulous hubby) is a wonderful example of how a man should treat the women (mother, wife and daughters) in his life. I am so thankful the Little Guy (My son Deane) really listens and respects the Big Guy (My husband Deane).

But as a mother, I want to be involved. I wanted to give the little guy a woman's perspective. What a woman should expect from a man and why it is important to be a gentleman. So I decided to institute Mother / Son date night. I know it might sound old school but I believe a man should hold a door open, pull out a woman's chair and GASP... pay for a date. I know he's only 5 but it is never too young to teach your son manners and respect for women. I discussed the plan with the Big Guy and he said he would take care of it.

After talking with his father, the Little Guy called me while I was at work and asked me out on our first date. The Big Guy gave him money to pay for the date and gave the Little Guy some last minute advice before we left for the evening. We went to see Monsters Vs. Aliens and stopped to get a bite after. The Little Guy was a perfect gentleman. He held the doors, paid the bill and brushed the popcorn off my seat at the movies. It was a night I will never forget. The next day, I started to think, I wish I could tell the Little Guy how much that date meant to me. How much fun I had and how proud I am to be his mom. I've been trying to think of something I could do. I got my answer today!

I found these fabulous needlepoint journals and thought these are just perfect!




This 5X7 stitchable journal comes in 5 colors: light green, sand, brown, bright blue and red with 100 unlined pages to add your favorite memories. You can personalize your journal with a canvas of your choice. What a great way to preserve your memories. I love this cover, we vacation at the shore every year. Now I have a wonderful book to record years of family vacation memories. You could use the Red journal for your Christmas Holiday Journal and the Blue for funny kid sayings. I chose the Dark Brown for my date book with the Little Guy and 2 Sand ones for the Big Guy to record his dates with our daughters, Gracie and Emma. The options are endless.

This 4.5 X 6.25 stitchable journal by AMH Designs has 192 unlined pages and includes easy-to-follow instructions, needle and needle threader, cotton thread in coordinating colors and a chart pattern for all 26 letters for your initials. In less than 2 hours you will have an journal to hold your treasured memories or give as a one-of-a-kind gift.

One lucky stitcher will win his/her choice of journals listed above. The giveaway runs from Friday, May 8^th to Friday, May 22nd at 5:00pm EST.

You must be a member of Loose Thread Stitchers to win this giveaway. Membership is FREE ~ click here for more info

So how can you win? Glad you asked!

Leave a comment about the journal you like best

Want additional ways to enter? You will receive an additional entry for each of the following (for a total of 5 entries):

1 ~ Blog about the giveaway and post the link in your comment on our blog

2 ~ Twitter it and include @LTSneedlework (our twitter ID) and a link to the blog

3 ~ Stumble it and post the link to our blog or website

4 ~ Join our Facebook group. We are in the business section under Loose Thread Stitchers

Each entry will be assigned a number. The winner will be chosen by a random number generator. We will contact the winner on Friday, May 22nd and announce in our blog posting that week. Good luck to you all!

New Designs Release from Ladybug Lane

Happy, Happy Spring!!! Just wanted to let you know that Ladybug Lane has two (2) new designs -- "Show Your Bloomers!" and "Love Never Fails." If you've checked their website lately, I know that you've seen "Show Your Bloomers" ... it was introduced at the Nashville show, and officially released it March 1. Don't you just LOVE the spring colors!!!!???

Love Never Fails by Ladybug Lane

Show your Bloomers by Ladybug Lane

"Love Never Fails" is just now being officially released, and we love it! It was stitched on a beautiful lavender color called "Whimsey" from Picture This Plus, and uses one (1) color of Crescent Colours Belle Soie in "Icing". The frame is also from Crescent Colours ("The Meg") and also in the Icing color. An alphabet chart is included for personalization, and spaces are noted for placement -- alphabet is done one over one.

Be sure to check out Jen's Blog where she will keep you up to date on all Ladybug Lane events, new releases and great cross stitch tips and tricks. You can also find Jen as well as hundreds of other designers, teachers and countless other needlework professionals at Loose Thread Stitchers.

Talk soon!

Colleen